Talking-machine.



M. E; LYLE, J. J. SCULLYKL F. L. CAPPS.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlGN FILED JULY 2, 1915.

Patented Feb. 4, 191% zgms 3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

M. E. LYLE J. J. SCULLY & F. L. CAPP S.

Patented Feb. 4., 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M. E. LYLE, J. J. SCULLY F. L. CAPPS TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.,.xsusv Patented Feb. 4., 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS invented a new and useful To all whom it may concern:

' bracket at the MEEWIN E. LYLE, JOHN J'. SCULLY, -AND FRANK L. CAPPS, OF BRIDGEPORT,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, .A. CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Be it known that we, Manwix E. LYLE, JOHN J. SoULLY, and FRANK L. (:APPS, citizensof the United States of America, and residents of Bridgeport, Connecticut, have Improvement in Talking-Machines, which invention is fully set forth, in the following specification.

This invention relates to talking machines,

and has for its object to produce a machineof this character at a minimum cost without decreasing its efiieiency or detracting from the character of the sound reproductions secured therefrom. The invention has refer once more particularly to the disk form of talking machines, either of the so-called hornless or the horn type, and provides an extremely cheap cabinet or casing for the motor mechanism and support for the tonearm and parts connected therewith. These ends are accomplished by providing a base and top, shown as struck up from sheet material such as sheet-metal, and side walls composed of sheet material such. as sheetnie'tal retained between the base and top by suitable means such erably being hung ing by suitable supporting'bolts. Inthe case of the hornless form of machine, the wall of the cabinet is it toform the sound amplifier into the narrow vor reduced end of which the tone-arm enters: whereas, in the horn form of machine. the tone-arm and horn are suitably supported on the outside of the casing. In the form shown, for universal movement in a side of the machine on a bent rod or wire support, the tone-arm and horn being so mounted upon the said rod as to be capable of movement in a vertical direction, and said rod itself being free to more in a horizontal direction in the bracket, while the bent rod at the same time forms an efficient support for the tone-arm proper when the reproducer is thrown to one side as bolts, the motor pref- -and is not Posting upon the record.

he inventive idea iscapable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions. some of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention. are shown on the accompanying drawings. but itis to be expressly understood that such drawings are for the pur pose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of defining the limits of the inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

- arm and motor,

from the top of the cas-v so shaped as to cause" the sides 11, 11'

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed July 2, 1915. Serial No. 37,731.

tion, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

In said drawings z- Figure 1 is a perspective view of, the hornless form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base, the walls and the top supporting the tonethe parts being separated in vertical alinement to better disclose the construction Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tone-arm support;

F 4 is a side elevation, broken away, of the horn form chine; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket and rod or wire for mounting the tone arm and horn.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and first to Fig. 2, 1 is a base shown as struck up from a single piece of sheet material such as sheetmetal and having holes or openings 2, 2 formed therein. 3 is a top plate also shown as struck up from similar material and having openings 2, 2 formed therein in vertical alineinent with the openings 2 in the base plate 1. This top plate 3 has an opening formed in one corner thereof, over which opening is mounted a tone-arm support 4. In that portion of the top plate 3 diagonally across from the tone-arm support 4 is formed an opening 5 through which the upwardly extending driving shaft 6 for the turn-table projects. which shaft is driven by a suitable motor 7 shown as supported by bolts 8. 8 extending through the .top plate 3.

The walls 9 of the cabinet are formed of a single piece of sheet material such as shcetmetal bent to form as shown in Fig. 2, one end. as 10. being shown as bent to form a tubular opening in alinement with two of the openings 2. 2 in the top and bottom, and

and 11" being bent at approximately right angles to each other. though preferably with the angular portions rounded, as shown, in order to produce neatness of finish. This produces three sides of the calbinet. From the side 11", the sheet material is bent preferably on an are l] and its end 12 brought into contact with the side 11 near the point where said wall support tone-arm is mounted joins the side 11, ably connected to the side 11 in any suitable way, as by soldering.

Depending from the under side of the top portion 3 in the form illustrated and registering on the under side with the tone-arm 4 is an elbow 13, which elbow preferably flares outwardly at its lower horizontal end, as shown. The parts being thus provided, the bent wall portion of the cabinet is placed upon the base portion 1, preferably just within a marginal flange 14 struck up on said portion, and the top portion 3 with its supported parts is then placed upon the wall portion, said top portion 3 being preferably provided with a ing peripheral flange 15 which extends over and embraces the wall portion. When thus assembled, the motor occupies the confined space between the wall portions 11', 11" and 11 and the elbow 13 rests within the space between the wall 11 and the are portion 11, which wall portion 11 and are portion 11, together with the bottom and top, constitute th inclosed sound amplifier Or horn of the machine.

With the parts in this position, suitable bolts 16 are then passed through the corresponding openin s 2', 2 in the bottom and top, and the who e secured together by nuts 16, Fig. 1, on said bolts.

An opening 17 is rovided throu h the wall 11" for the winc ing shaft for t ie motor, and an opening 18 is also provided in said wall for the start-and-stop and speedregulating device for the motor.

The tone-arm support 4 is provided with two oppositely disposed horizontal slots 19, withi which rest the ends of a horizontal pin 20 passing through the spherical en largement 21 on the tone-arm 22, which enlargement fits closely within the upper por-' tion of the support t but so as to )ermit the tone-arm to turn freely therein a out vertical and horizontalaxes. This construction enables the tone-arm to have universal movement-upon its bearing without providing any opening flaring outwardly from the interior of the sound conduit.

Within the tone-arm support 4 and beneath the spherical enlargement 21 of the a stirrup 23, which the wall of the toneas 24:, at a point higher horizontal of the stirstirrup is connected to arm support on one side, higher up. that is in a plane, than is the other side 25 mp, its lower end to the bottom of said stirrup and at its upper end to the pin 20.

-The higher end' 24 of said stirrup is in a position to be engaged by the lower edge of the spherical portion of the tone-arm when the latter is swung to one side of the record and the soundi-box end thereof released, thereby limiting the downward tilting or said end 12 being prefer-- rocking action of downwardly extcndand a coiled spring 26 is connected atthe tone-arm and acting asa support or stop to hold the ton ;arm in approximately horizontal position. 011 the other hand, the lower portion 25 of the stirrup is in a osition where it will-not be engaged by t e lower edge of the spherical portion of the tone-arm when the tone-arm is considerably elevated. At the same time the point where the spring 26 is connected to the stirrup is sufiiciently removed from the point where said spring i connected to the pin 20 to afi'ord the necessary yielding action and yet enable the spring to hold the parts in normal position and prevent play or rattle between the parts. By this means a single piece of bent wire is caused to operate not only as a tone-arm stop but also as an abutment for the spring 26.

The usual or any suitable turn-table 27 is mounted on the vertical drive shaft 6, which table supports the usual or any suitable record 28 in position to be engaged by the stylus of the reproducer 29.

Referring to Figs. l horn form of the machine, a suitable base 31 and top 33, which maybe made of sheetmaterial, such as sheet-metal, are struck up and vertical walls 3i, preferably consisting of a single piece or strip of sheet material such as sheet-metal bent into approximately rectangular form are provided and the whole united together by bolts 35, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 4, the motor being supported from the top portion 33 by depending bolts or otherwise. Projecting outwardly from one of the side walls 34 is a bracket 36 which is preferably constructed of sheet-metal bent into suitable form and bolted or riveted to said wall 3st, which bracket has preferably an upperportion 36 and a lower base portion 36", as shown, and near the outer exand 5 showing the trcurity of the two portions 36', 36" are with an upwardly ntending vertical pork tion a, an inwardly extending approximately horizontal portion 1), a second horizontal portion 0 extending approximatelj at right angles to the first. horizontal portion I), and a third horizontal portion (1 bent on a reverse curve-and extending above and'approximately parallel with the second horizontal portion 0. The horn and tonearm are preferably formed as a unit (though not necessarily integral), r'adually expanding from the reproducer 9 to the outwardly flared portion 40 of the born, the whole preferably being formed on a reverse curve so that the horn or flared portion 40 extends out over the reproducer. The horizontallyextending portion 11 of the support ing. rod; 38 preferably extends directly through the walls of the tone-arm adjacent to said reverse curve and isretained in position by an expanding pin 41 passing through an opening in the portion d, preferabl'y with a washer 42 placed between said expanding pin and the wall of the tone-arm. As thus constructed the reproducer, tonearm and, horn are free to move in a horizontal direction, turning upon the portion a of the rod 38 as an axis; the tone-arm and horn with its attached reproducer are free to move in a vertical direction, turning upon the horizontal portion (Z of the rod 38 as an axis; and the horizontal portion 0 forms a support for the tone-arnrwhen the reproducer .is not resting upon the record. Of course, it will be understood that a suitable lug or abutment a: is formed on the vertical portion a of the rod 38 to provide a shoulder to limit the downward movement of the portion a through upper opening 37 in the bracket 36.

It will be observed that the invention thus provides an extremely simple and cheaply manufactured cabinet, either for the horn or hornless form of machine, made of sheet material which can be struck up at a minimum cost (and which may be-enameled or colored as desired); that the mounting for the tone-arm, whether in the horn or .hornless form of machine, is extremely simple and yet provides efficiently for all of the movements incident tothe perfect operation of said tone-arm; and that all of the parts are capable of being manufactured without the employment of skilled labor.

Various changes and modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that all such changes and modifications are designed to be covered by said claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a casing composed of a flanged top of sheet material, a flanged base of sheet 1naterial and side walls of sheet material held between said top and base and in engagement with said flanges, and sound-reproducing instrumentalities supported by said casing.

2. In a talking machine, the combination of a casing composed of a flanged top of sheet material, a flanged base of sheet matcrial and side walls of sheet material held between said top and base and within and in engagement with said flanges, bolts passing through the top and base and clamping the side walls thcrebetween, and sound-reproducing instrmnentalities supported by said casing.

3. A talking machine casing composed of a top and base of sheet material and side walls of sheet material held betweeh said formed in one corner portion,

top and base, one of said side walls being bent inward to form one of the sides of an inclosed flaring horn.

l. A talking machine casing composed of a -top and base, and side walls comprising a single sheet of material bent around three sidesof a rectangle and heldbetween said top and base, said sheet at one end being bent inward to form with a side wall a sound-amplifying compartment.

5. A talking machine casing composed of a top and base, and side walls comprising a single sheet of material bent around three sidesof a rectangle and held between said top and base, said sheet at one end being bent inward and joined to the middle of said side walls to divide the interior of said casing into sound amplifying and motor-inclosing compartments.

6. A talking machine casing or cabinet composed of a top and bottom of sheet ma terial and side walls of sheet material held between said top and bottom, the sheet constituting the side walls being bent around three sides of a rectangle and then bent inward and its end joined to one of the side walls, whereby there is formed an inclosed space for the motor mechanism and an outwardly flaring horn space open at one end, substantially as described.

7. A talking machine casing or cabinet composed of a substantially rectangular top of sheet material having a tone-arm opening formed in one corner portion and a driveshaft opening diagonally opposite said tonearm opening, a base of sheet material, and side walls of sheet material, the sheet constitutingthe sidewalls being bent around three sides of a rectangle and'having its end portion bent inward and joined to themid dle one of said three sides, whereby there is formed an outwardly flaring sound-amplifying space open at'one end and with its closed end communicating with said tonearm opening in the top, substantially as described.

8. A talking machine casing or cabinet having a substantially rectangular top of sheet material with a tone-arm opening a tone-arm support over and surrounding said opening. a base of sheet material, and side walls of sheet material, the sheet constituting said side Walls being bent around three sides of a rectangle and having its end portion bent inward and joined to one of said three sides, whereby an inclosed, horn is formed communicating with said tone-arm opening at its closed end.

9. In a talking machine, the combination of a casing composed of a top and base and a single sheet of material bent. to constitute interior of said easing into a soundamplifying and a motor-inclosing compartment, a motor suspended from said top within said last-named compartment, a record support without said casin driven by said motor, and sound-repro ucing instrumentalities supported by said casing in operative relation to said record support.

' 10. A talking machlne casing having its side walls constructed of a single sheet of material bent to shape, a portion of said sheet being bent inward to constitute a wall of a sound-amplifying compartment in said casmg.

In testimony specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MERWIN E. LYLE. JOHN J. SCULLY. FRANK L. CAPPS;

Witnesses:

J OHN It. Perms, PAUL J. LUNNY.

whereof We have signed this 15 

